International Students

Escola Politecnica provides all the conditions necessary for exchange. Students from High Education Institutions all over the world, for example, count on a large number of agreements, as well as places and programs to receive them. A period of study at Escola Politécnica is thus a unique opportunity for international students to develop a global network of peers and alumni. The Escola Politecnica seeks to attract the best international students into its programs using the excellence criterion to select them.

Academic information

Semesters/Quarterly Period

First semester: beginning in February/March ends in June (holydays in July).Second semester: beginning in August ends in December (holydays in January).Quarterly courses: starts in January to April / May to August / September to December.

Grading System: grades are given on zero to ten scales. Passing grade is five. Highest mark is usually seven. Grades are absolute and not comparative. A transcript of records will be sent free of charge to the partner university's exchange coordinator at the end of the study period.

Language Requirements: the language of instruction at EPUSP is Portuguese. The Portuguese Language Proficiency Certificate is not mandatory. It is a requirement that all exchange students have the basic level in Portuguese.

Portuguese Language Course: is open for all foreign students at the Language Center of Faculty of Philosophy Letters and Humanities of USP. A placement test upon arrival is a requirement for defining your level and the courses that you will be taking For further information please visit http://fflch.usp.br/ or send a message to
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.

Student Visa (Temporary Type IV) is compulsory to be registered at Poli. This Visa has to be requested by the student while still in his/her home country from the Brazilian Diplomatic Representation (http://www.itamaraty.gov.br/).

Proof of Health insurance is compulsory tocovers all the exchange program periodand has to be purchased by the student before leave your home country.

After Arrival: you should come to our Office http://www.poli.usp.br/acesso-rapido/mapas-e-meios-de-transporte. We will help you with all the necessary steps for registration and enrollement. Also is very important you participate in the Orientation Week carried on by iPoli Team. They will give you very useful advises about USP and BUSP Cards, Bilhete Único Estudante, bank account, registration at Polícia Federal, RNE, library, accommodation, etc.

Enrollement: to officially enroll at POLI, you need to show your Student Visa Type IV and proof of health insurance valid for the whole exchange period. Then we will give (if available) your USP and BUSP Cards. The enrolment procedure needs to be done after your arrival.

Registration in Disciplines and Certificate of Registration: the Undergraduate Office
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is responsible to register you in the disciplines and issue the Certificate of Registration and the Transcript of Records.

USP Card: this card serves multiple purposes. Payment in cafeteria (“Bandejão”) you have to charge money to your USP Card. Lent books from library, and allow you to pay half entrance in Cinemas, Theaters.

BUSP Card: this card allows you to take the local bus from inside the Campus to Butantan Metro Station. For this card you do not have to charge money.

Bank Account: for money transactions of all kinds you need to open a bank account with a local Brazilian bank. To do that, you will need your passport, the RNE, the admission letter and a valid address in São Paulo. After your exchange program time in POLI, it is very important that you pay all your debts, cancel standing orders and close your bank account. Please do not forget that!

Registration at “Policia Federal”: you also have to go to the “Polícia Federal Office” to get the RNE. More information have a look at: http://www.dpf.gov.br/ and bring them all the documentation required.

Studying at Poli

Course Schedule: The course schedule for upcoming semesters will be published only a few months before the semester starts. If you want to know which courses are held, you can also check the course schedule of past semesters. The offer of courses is different in Summer Semester (February/March to June) and Winter Semester (August to December), but normally from year to year the general offer of courses will not change much.

Exams at POLI are normally held in the time between lecture periods. The exact time and date of each exam will be communicated by your professor. The professor also decides whether the exam is held orally or written. Normally, every exam is held both in Winter Semester and in Summer Semester.

Computers: the university computer center (STI) provides free-to-use computer rooms with internet access and an inexpensive printing service. They also offer free WLAN (via eduroam) in most university areas.

Cafeteria (Bandeijão): You can find a large number of cafeterias (Bandeijão)as well as restaurants around the Campus, which offer a large variety of cheap meals for students. In the “Bandeijão” you can pay your meal with money charged to your USP Card. For the other restaurants you have to pay cash.